The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1887-12-29
Chief Geronimo.

A Pensacola, Fla, letter to the Phil.
adelphia Times says: At the door OF
the first room were two Indian women
seated on the floor playing cards. Our
civilization has taught them this.
They ceased their game as we came
up and smiled at the party. The sol
der with us could not interpret, so
our conversation was limited to few
signs.
Next we met a woman with baby
swinging on her back. She stopped
TO let us examine the little fellow.
They have a most remarkable '.instru-
ment of torture" as we dubbed it, for
carrying the ''papooses" until they
can walk. 1t is of wood, shaped some
thing like a coffin, with the sides very
much lower, though. In that the child
is placed and strapped. from its neck
down to its heels, its hands straight
down by its sides, SO that the little
one can move its head only. This ar
rangement has band of leather which
the mother passes around her forehead.
When busy at anything she stands it
up against the wall or post. OF all
the babies we saw there we did not
hear one whimper. The women are
very friendly, and seemed pleased at
the attention paid them and their chill
dren by visitors laughing great deal
and showing invariably fine rows of
teeth. We saw great quantities OF
bead work, baskets, etc, which they
are busy preparing to sell winter tour
lists. but we did not purchase, as In
dian work is so much better done by
Americans now.
We soon reached Geronimo's quar-
ters. He sat on chair near his door,
and one of his squaws was ON the
ground near him, while baby Just
walking played about his feet. With
in the room on the bed were seated a
little boy and girl jabbering away for
all they were worth, who quite scorned
all our efforts to attract them to u.s.
Geronimo was more suave than any
Indian man l have ever seen. He
smiled and shook hands, and his
manner was almost affable. I was
much amused to see the murderous
old fellow play with his child.
We had been told that Natchez was
more naughty than all the others, but
think we caught him on his red let
ter day, he was SO polite. He is the
finest looking of any of the chiefs, and
his face is more honest. Geronimo
has blander smile, but would never
inspire confidence. Nathez' hands and
feet are small. He stood up for US to
look at him. He is long and 1.-the of
limb, and looks as if his strength was
quick and nervous rather than of the
enduring kind. His hatred of Geron-
imo does not seem to abate. In fact,
the old diplomatic, as he is called here,
is in bad odor with the other chiefs.
They hold him accountable for their
surrender, and have never forgiven
him. They are very chary about asso-
ciating with him.
A great pity came over me as we
turned to go. 1 thought of their free
life in the great far-reaching country
of the west, their hatred of the pale
faces of the east. Here they were,
shut within four narrow walls. subject
to their despised conquerors and their
eagerly hated modes of life. I won
dered they did not rise in their wrath
and slaughter the handful of men who
have them IN charge. But life seems
sweet to all human beings, and we
soon learn prudence if the penalty of
recklessness be death.
The storms of few weeks since ter
rified them. The ''big water" inspires
them with an awe and dread that moth
ing else does, and it was an infinite
relief to them when the heavens
cleared and the waters were again
calm. The booming of the surf. which
sounded like the play of artillery far
in the city, filled them with unspeak-
able terror. What will become of
them? Will their lives be spent in
prison? 1t is knOtty question and
| one which the government has not yet
solved. They are not quite the heroes
of Cooper, and their love of dirt and
treachery are repulsive; but they are
men, and men of so different birth and
rearing we cannot force them quite
vet into our narrower grooves.